MILAN (Thomson Financial) - Italy could build a nuclear power plant in just seven years if the country uses a site already destined for such purposes in the past, said Fulvio Conti, CEO of the electricity generator Enel SpA, in an interview with Saturday's La Repubblica.
Italy banned the use of nuclear energy in Italy in 1987, but Silvio Berlusconi, the head of a right-wing coalition indicated by opinion polls as the probable winner of general elections to be held on April 13-14, advocates the reintroduction of nuclear power and believes it could take five years to build a power plant.
Previously, Edison SpA CEO Umberto Quadrino said it would take at least 10 years to build a nuclear power in Italy.
Conti agreed that it would take about 10 years to build a power plant if the government immediately authorised construction. However, the timeframe could be cut to seven years by using a site which had received clearance in the past to build nuclear reactors, he added.
The manager also said that he is willing to stay at the helm of Enel for another three or six years.
Enel, which is controlled by the government, has to renew its board at a shareholders meeting in June. Directors' mandates are renewed every three years.